Film patch, jig and method of using same

Abstract

The present invention relates to a patch which is easily applied to motion picture film, a jig and a method for using the same. The patch may act as a splice to connect two lengths of film which require repair or which must be joined together to produce a complete presentation. The patch may also be applied along a predetermined position of the film to carry control information which may be used to control the sequence of events in a movie theater. In some applications, the patch may serve both a splicing as well as an information-carrying function. The patch can be rapidly and accurately positioned and attached to the film by use of a novel splicing jig and results in a splice which does not leave any adhesive residue about the film sprocket holes or on the jig.

I claim: 
     
       1. A film patch for attachment to a film segment having sprocket holes longitudinally spaced along at least one longitudinal edge thereof and adapted to be held in a jig, said film patch comprising: (A) a strip of transparent material having a central portion and an edge portion on each side of said strip central portion, said strip central portion being configured and dimensioned to overlie the width of the film segment and each of said strip edge portions being configured and dimensioned to extend widthwise beyond a respective longitudinal edge of the film segment when said strip overlies the film, said strip central portion having longitudinally spaced sprocket holes for alignment with the film sprocket holes and each said strip edge portion having an alignment aperture therein for accurately positioning said strip across the film segment in the jig to effect vertical alignment of said strip sprocket holes and the film sprocket holes;   (B) a layer of transparent pressure-sensitive adhesive containing a fluorescent dye extending across the undersurface of at least said strip central portion; and   (C) a releasable liner adhered to and covering at least the undersurface of said adhesive layer.   
     
     
       2. The patch of claim 1 wherein said strip alignment apertures are laterally aligned. 
     
     
       3. The patch of claim 1 wherein said strip is flexible, substantially non-stretchable along the longitudinal axis, and slightly stretchable along the width axis. 
     
     
       4. The patch of claim 1 wherein said liner has a releasable central portion and an edge portion on each side thereof, said liner central portion having longitudinally spaced sprocket holes aligned with said strip central portion sprocket holes. 
     
     
       5. The patch of claim 4 wherein said strip and liner sprocket holes are greater in length and width than the film sprocket holes. 
     
     
       6. The patch of claim 1 wherein said adhesive layer extends fully across the undersurface of said strip, and said liner has a releasable central portion and an edge portion on each side of said liner central portion, each of said liner edge portions having an alignment aperture therein aligned with a respective strip alignment aperture, said liner additionally defining a line of severance intermediate said liner central portion and each of said liner edge portions. 
     
     
       7. The patch of claim 6 wherein said liner central portion and said liner edge portions are three individual and separate pieces. 
     
     
       8. The patch of claim 1 wherein a portion of said patch remaining after release and removal of said liner and removal of said strip edge portions contains an indicia defined by a first material transparent to the human eye under ordinary light. 
     
     
       9. The patch of claim 8 wherein said indicia contains a fluorescent dye. 
     
     
       10. The patch of claim 1 wherein a portion of said patch includes an indicia defined by a first material transparent to the human eye under ordinary light containing information relative to the film segment. 
     
     
       11. The patch of claim 10 wherein said information is in machine-readable form. 
     
     
       12. The patch of claim 8 wherein said liner includes indicia visible to the human eye under ordinary light related to the information or data provided on said patch by said first material. 
     
     
       13. The patch of claim 8 wherein at least a portion of said first material is a fluorescent dye incorporated into said adhesive layer. 
     
     
       14. The patch of claim 8 wherein said first material is visible under infrared light. 
     
     
       15. The patch of claim 8 wherein said patch additionally includes a second material which is also transparent to the human eye under ordinary light but visible to the human eye under a second special light. 
     
     
       16. The patch of claim 15 wherein at least a portion of said first material is arranged to provide information or data relative to one of the film segments, and at least a portion of said second material is arranged to provide information or data related to said information or data on said information- or data-providing portion of said first material. 
     
     
       17. The patch of claim 16 wherein said information- or data-providing portion of said first material is in machine-readable form and said information- or data-providing portion of said second material is in human-intelligible form. 
     
     
       18. The patch of claim 15 wherein said second material is different from said first material and said second material is visible to the human eye under said second special light which is different from a first special light, said first material being transparent to said second special light and said second material being transparent to said first special light. 
     
     
       19. The patch of claim 10 wherein at least one of said strip edge portions contains indicia visible under ordinary light for providing information or data related to said information or data provided by said first material. 
     
     
       20. A film patch for attachment to two film segments adapted to be held in end-to-end abutting relationship in a splicer jig and having sprocket holes longitudinally spaced along at least one longitudinal edge thereof, said patch comprising: (A) a strip of transparent material having a central portion and an edge portion on each side of said strip central portion, said strip central portion being configured and dimensioned to overlie the width of both film segments and each of said strip edge portions being configured and dimensioned to extend widthwise beyond a respective longitudinal edge of both film segments, when said strip overlies the film, said strip central portion having longitudinally spaced sprocket holes aligned with the film sprocket holes and each said strip edge portion having an alignment aperture therein for accurately positioning said strip across the film segments in the jig to effect vertical alignment of said strip sprocket holes and the film sprocket holes; said strip being flexible, substantially non-stretchable along the longitudinal axis and slightly stretchable along the width axis, said strip alignment apertures being laterally aligned;   (B) a layer of transparent pressure-sensitive adhesive containing a fluorescent dye extending fully across the undersurface of said strip; and   (C) a releasable liner adhered to and covering the undersurface of said adhesive layer, said liner having a releasable central portion with longitudinally spaced sprocket holes aligned with said strip central portion sprocket holes and an edge portion on each side of said liner central portion, with an alignment aperture therein aligned with a respective strip alignment aperture, said strip and liner sprocket holes being of greater dimensions than the film sprocket holes, and said liner defining a line of severance intermediate said liner central portion and each of said liner edge portions.   
     
     
       21. The patch of claim 20 additionally including a first material which is transparent to the human eye under ordinary light but detectable by a machine and a second material which is also transparent to the human eye under ordinary light but visible to the human eye under a second special light, at least a portion of said first material being arranged to provide information in machine-readable form relative to one of the film segments, and at least a portion of said second material being arranged to provide information in human intelligible form related to said information on said information providing portion of said first material. 
     
     
       22. The patch of claim 21 wherein said second material is different from said first material and said second material is visible to the human eye under said second special light which is different from a first special light, said first material being transparent to the second special light and said second material being transparent to said first special light. 
     
     
       23. In combination, a motion picture film and a control strip adhered thereto, said control strip comprising a transparent strip having a transparent pressure-sensitive adhesive on one side thereof adhering said transparent strip to a length of said film, said control strip additionally including a first fluorescent dye material which is transparent under ordinary light but machine-readable under a first special light. 
     
     
       24. In combination, a motion picture film and a control strip adhered thereto, said control strip comprising an imperforate transparent strip having a transparent pressure-sensitive adhesive on one side thereof adhering said transparent strip to a length of said film, said control strip additionally including a first fluorescent dye material which is transparent under ordinary light but visible under a first special light and a second material which is also transparent under ordinary light but visible under a second special light; at least a portion of said first material being arranged to provide information or data in machine-readable form relative to said film length and at least a portion of said second material being arranged to provide information or data in human intelligible form related to said information or data on said information- or data-providing portion of said first material, said second material being different from said first material and visible under a second special light different from the first special light, said first material being transparent to the second special light and said second material being transparent to the first special light.